International Travel

All Norwich University faculty, staff, and students traveling on university business or on university-sponsored programs are required to register their trips with the International Center at least 30 days in advance. They are required to receive approval from their supervisor and the Provost’s Office.

Norwich University suspended its international activities abroad for Spring 2020. All students, no matter their location, were asked to return to the United States, including students studying at the CityLAB: Berlin site in Germany. Maymester 2020 study abroad programs were also canceled.

Faculty, staff, and students approved to travel abroad over the summer have been advised to reconsider their travel. The groups have been advised that the university may cancel their trip at any time, for any reason. However, our practice is to prohibit travel only if warnings from the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deem it necessary. The university maintains international health insurance for its approved and registered travelers. The plan includes a benefit for medical evacuations.

International travelers should be advised that at any time they risk:

1. having their travels interrupted, including being denied entry
2. being denied re-entry back into the United States and/or
3. being subject to quarantine.

All travelers should review their international and domestic health insurance plans to ensure they understand their coverage.

International students leaving the United States

Recognizing that commercial flights between the United States and other nations are diminishing daily, Norwich University is urging all international students and those who live abroad to secure flights as soon as possible. Those who cannot depart will be permitted to remain on the Northfield campus until suitable alternative arrangements can be made. 

Students with ticketed flights are encouraged to enroll in their airline’s messaging alert system to get the most up to date information about flight changes and cancellations. Students should begin monitoring flight times and airport operations at least 72 hours before planned departure dates and times. 

Students who plan to travel by Greyhound bus, Dartmouth Coach or Amtrak, should monitor these services to ensure they remain operational. Students should also give themselves plenty of time to arrive at the airport to check in and go through the new enhanced security measures.

Important websites are below:

• Amtrak 
• Greyhound 
• Dartmouth Coach
• Burlington International Airport
• Boston Logan International Airport
• JFK International Airport 

Travel to/from Canada

The U.S. and Canadian government has announced their intention to temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada border. For more information, click here.

Travel within the United States

As we try to curb the spread of COVID-19, travelers should be especially mindful of non-essential travel within the United States, whether it be for personal or professional reasons.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Things to consider before travel:

Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you’re going?

If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. If you have questions about your destination, you should check your destination’s local health department website for more information.

Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?

Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like coronavirus may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (such as movie theaters and shopping malls), and public transportation (such as buses, metro, trains).

Are you or your travel companion(s) more likely to get severe illness if you get COVID-19?

People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.

Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?

If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.

Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?

If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or people of any age with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?

Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.

Depending on your unique circumstances, you may choose to delay or cancel your plans. If you do decide to travel, be sure to take steps to help prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during travel. For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Travel page.

FAQs

Did Norwich University did prohibit university-sponsored travel to China?

Yes. This policy impacted one student who was planning to study abroad in China. The student was given the option to 1) return to Northfield to resume campus-based studies 2) take a leave of absence or 3) join a program in a country that was not deemed high risk by the U.S. State Department or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Does Norwich University have students from China?

Yes. None were subject to quarantine based on their travel history. The university consulted guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-china.html and the Vermont Department of Health https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus

Does Norwich University have students studying abroad or away?

Yes. Norwich University has students studying in 10 different countries or territories. All students have been asked to return to the United States.

Last Updated: March 21, 2020